Venezuela is in the middle of an extremely serious crisis after large‑scale United States military strikes and the reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro, creating a volatile and uncertain political and humanitarian situation.

Quick Scoop: What Just Happened?

  • The United States launched coordinated airstrikes on multiple sites in and around Caracas and northern Venezuela, under an operation widely reported as a regime‑change action targeting Maduro’s government.
  • US President Donald Trump has publicly claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in the operation and transferred out of Venezuela to face narcoterrorism‑related charges in US courts.
  • The Venezuelan authorities have declared a national state of emergency, reporting explosions at military bases, energy infrastructure disruptions, and power cuts in parts of Caracas and surrounding states.

Who’s Running Venezuela Right Now?

  • Trump has stated that the US will effectively “run the country” temporarily until what he describes as a “safe, proper and judicious transition” can be organized, suggesting deep US involvement in Venezuela’s political future.
  • Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has said on state media that Maduro and Flores are missing, demanding “proof of life” and calling the strikes an imperialist attack, while also activating national defenses.
  • Internationally, many governments and legal experts are questioning the legality of the strikes and the seizure of a sitting head of state, framing it as a dangerous precedent in international law.

Global Reactions and Regional Shockwaves

  • UN Secretary‑General António Guterres has expressed deep alarm, warning that US actions in Venezuela could set a “dangerous precedent” and escalate tensions across the region.
  • Countries in Latin America and beyond are split: some long‑time critics of Maduro see the move as the fall of an authoritarian leader, while others denounce it as an illegal foreign intervention and a violation of sovereignty.
  • Colombia’s leadership and other regional actors have shared lists of reported strike locations, describing hits on military facilities, airports and infrastructure in and around Caracas and coastal areas.

Inside Venezuela: On‑the‑Ground Mood

  • Reports describe fear, confusion and anger among civilians: people in parts of Caracas heard low‑flying aircraft, multiple explosions and then experienced blackouts and communications disruptions.
  • On Venezuelan and diaspora forums, posters are debating whether this is “liberation” from a long‑standing crisis or a new chapter of foreign control, often contrasting Western media narratives with personal experiences of economic collapse, sanctions and political repression.
  • Many Venezuelans worry about immediate impacts: potential shortages if infrastructure is damaged, risks of internal power struggles, and whether armed groups or factions of the security forces will resist or splinter.

What to Watch Next

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Key area What to watch
Political control Whether Delcy Rodríguez or another figure is formally recognized inside Venezuela, and how quickly the US moves to influence or shape a transition plan.
International law UN Security Council debates, legal challenges to the capture of Maduro, and statements from major powers on the legitimacy of the operation.
Security & clashes Possible resistance from Venezuelan military units, pro‑government militias, or regional allies, as well as any further strikes or deployments.
Humanitarian impact Damage to infrastructure, displacement, and whether aid corridors or sanctions changes follow in the coming days.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.